National Day of Prayer to Mark First ‘Yolanda’ Anniversary on Saturday

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) early this week declared November 8 as a National Day of Prayer to observe the first anniversary of typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).

Church bells will ring at 6 pm on Saturday, marking the first anniversary of the destruction brought by the said typhoon.

In a statement dated Nov. 4, CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said that on Nov. 8, 2014, the Filipino nation “will commemorate the anniversary of typhoon Yolanda that has ravaged the country’s Central Visayas region. Thus, we declare Nov. 8 this year as a National Day of Prayer, especially for the victims and survivors of the typhoon.”

Villegas invited his fellow bishops and apostolic administrators to a nationwide simultaneous ringing of church bells at 6 p.m. report said.

It added that after the ringing of church bells, the CBCP’s commemorative prayer (provided below), will follow:

Most loving Father,

One year ago, the fury of Typhoon Yolanda made us experience darkness and the pain of losing everything; it made us understand the meaning of despair.

But in the midst of all these, You never have forsaken us.

In the most special way, You gifted us courage and strength to rise again.

In the most loving way, You shielded us with mercy and compassion.

And you accomplished miracles through those who came to our aid.

And as we remember that day today, we thank You for the gift of faith, hope and love.

We thank you for bringing us closer to you.

We thank you for letting us live another day.

Spare our nation from the wrath of nature, as we find ways to care for your Creation.

(Glory be)

Moreover, Villegas encouraged prelatures, diocese, schools, and organizations to hold their own activities to mark the event.

Yolanda hit Central Visayas on Nov. 8 last year, leaving more than 6,000 dead in its wake.

Source: GMA News Online

Image Credit:  Famoso Guerrero